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There are many herbalists that rely on gathering ( wildcrafting) their own herbs from fields, mountains and streams. The modern herbalist might use a blend of cultural or traditional practices. Growers, practitioners, educators and small to larger manufacturer’s all consider themselves herbalists. A blending of the old and new is now taking place.

Herbal medicine employs many different types of plants ranging in strength from herbs, which can be taken with relative safety, to plants that may have toxicity and should be used only by trained professionals. In the United States herbal medicine usually refers to the use of plants that are indigenous to Europe and Northern America. There are, on the other hand, many different disciplines of herbal medicine including Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which uses plants native to China and Asia and Ayurvedic herbal medicine, which uses plants native to India. Herbal Medicine is the oldest known form…

It is impossible to get to where we want to be with the same ‘stinking thinking’ that holds us where we are. Each level of success comes with some kind of personal breakthrough. It takes a well thought out plan or strategy to get to where we desire to be, taking smaller steps is generally the best option in order to attain the desired result.

The mind is an amazing and powerful tool and 98 percent of people don’t believe in themselves. Believing in yourself in the first step to getting what you want. I mean TRULY believe that it’s possible to do anything you desire in this world. Because it is.

If you want to change your life or your situation, start with yourself. Be mindful of every word that comes out of your mouth, every thought you think, every book you read, and how you spend your time.

If you can imagine HOW you want to be, then start being that person NOW. The change has to start somewhere. Today is the best time to start being the person you want to be and letting your inner light shine.

Here are a few steps you can actively start doing towards developing a success mindset and changing your life for the better:

Create a vision board with pictures and write out steps that are required to achieve your dream.

start your day with 10 minutes of quiet meditation to stay clear about your goal.

read 30 minutes a day of personal growth and development

listen to inspiring audio whenever you can

consciously reject negative thoughts and focus on the prosperity you see in the world around you.

Motivate yourself with thoughts of prior successes in your life and review those experiences to determine what you achieved to get there and how wonderful it felt once you completed them.

By working on yourself first, you will develop the confidence you need to believe in yourself and to go after your goals with clear intentions.

Forgiveness is my function as the light of the world, some powerful words that flew directly into my heart from what I was reading in print. Forgiveness is my function as the light of the world. How do you forgive someone who is no longer living for his or her transgressions? This is something I have struggled with since 2004; I know a very long time! The last words my spouse ever uttered to me were “I am sorry.” I have gone around and around in my mind as to what he might have been sorry for, causing an inconvenience on the day he died, knowing that he was about to die and leave a huge mess for our minor child and myself, or sorry for the lies he told me, or sorry for not placing his trust in me. I will never know what he…

Rosemary

Rosemary has historically been used to alleviate ailments ranging from indigestion to poor memory. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that at least one study proved rosemary beneficial for relieving anxiety; However, another study found rosemary can actually increase anxiety. If you find rosemary to be relaxing, you can take the dried herb as a tea preparation, or added to bath water. Rosemary essential oil is used in aromatherapy, but can have a convulsant effect on those susceptible to epileptic seizures.

Chamomile

The variety of chamomile most popular in the United States is German chamomile, or Matricaria recutita. Chamamelum nobile, also known as Roman or English chamomile, is also available as a herbal supplement. Both kinds of chamomile are used to reduce stress, anxiety and nervousness. Chamomile is also believed helpful for relieving muscle spasms and skin conditions. There are few human studies regarding the calming effect of chamomile, but research on animals show that a low dose of chamomile reduces anxiety and promotes restful sleep.

Oatstraw

Avena sativa, or oatstraw, is the stalk part of the oat plant which is used in cereals and other foods. As well as being part of a staple food crop for people in many countries, oatstraw has traditional herbal uses as a stress reliever. Oatstraw can be taken as a supplement or in a tea infusion, and is believed effective in combating exhaustion associated with neurological pain. Additionally, oatstraw is commonly used as a remedy for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and for more general anxiety.

I found this interesting article on a friend’s facebook page- I think that it highlights several areas we should be thinking about. I am posting because it makes a lot of sense to me and I would value any comments, thoughts, feedback people have to offer.

I am concerned that modern farming methods compromise the nutritional value of our food- without scientific basis, my personal opinion is that we need to seriously consider the food miles covered by everything we eat, the trauma that forcing popular ingredients to satisfy commercialised demand causes to the fundamental structure of both plant and animal life and the true merit of out of season, out of natural habitat items.

Currently my own research indicates that the nutritional value we expect from many foods is compromised, and I feel my opinion is not original or unique as the supplement business is booming and has been for some time. Recently…

Fish oil (Omega-3) can adds years and quality to your life. It helps to lower bad, LDL, cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure, and increases your good HDL cholesterol. It protects you from heart attack and stroke by breaking up clots in your arteries. Omega 3 aids in memory retention, and allows one to stay focused longer on tasks. It alleviates the symptoms of depression, psychosis, bipolar disorder, dyslexia, and compulsive personality disorders. It reduces the risk of breast, colon and prostate cancer. It is also is effective in reducing inflammation and pain from arthritis and cystitis.

Recently, Omega-3 Fish oil supplements were shown to work as well or better than a popular cholesterol-reducing drug to help patients with chronic heart failure. A large four-year study concluded that a daily omega-3 fish oil pill had a slightly better success rate than Crestor in combating this disease.

What conditions or symptoms indicate a need for more high-omega-3 foods?